SCOTT RHODES believes his team need to put their bodies on the line if they are to stand a better chance of winning promotion back to the National Conference League premier division.

Last Thursday's 42-16 win over Elland lifted the Blue and Golds up to fifth in division one with seven games left, but, while it also confirmed them as the tier's second-highest scorers, head coach Rhodes is concerned with the number of points his team have conceded - with only two sides outside the bottom three having shipped in more.

He wants that side of his team's game to improve, starting with Saturday's trip to Milford Marlins (2.30pm), whom he believes are in a false position just two places, if seven points, above the drop zone.

"Our attack has never been in doubt - we're up there with the best in the league," he said.

"But defensively we haven't always been too clever and we have to be better. We're working hard to put it right.

"I can coach all the systems in the world but you can't make someone put their head in the way of someone's thigh, or put their shoulder in where it hurts. You have to have that desire to get out there and defend and we're not showing it enough at the moment."

Thursday's match was only really sealed in the last quarter.

Centre Richard Crawshaw had found space to open the scoring for the visitors before Acorn got into their stride and posted five tries in 15 breathtaking minutes.

They came from Steve Mackley, squeezing into the corner, Jordan Myers, Ryan Gallacher, with two in two minutes, and Mackley again, with Antony Chilton adding three goals.

However, Elland cut the gap to 26-16 with tries either side of the interval through Joe Nicholson and prop Jorge Fairbank, Cayci Pearson adding the goals.

The visitors eyed a comeback but Acorn kept them at bay for 15 minutes before finding an edge when throwing the ball about with flair.

Finally Myers found a gap to score his second and Acorn's forward were rewarded for their strong efforts as man of the match Joe Porter barged over and Tim Stubbs, another top performer, also crossed, Chilton's two conversions ending the scoring.

Said Rhodes of the rearranged fixture, which preceded a blank weekend in the fixture list due to the Challenge Cup final: "It came at a good time for us.

"We had two weeks off a couple of weeks ago and when we came back we struggled. It was good to keep our eye in instead of having another blank week.

"I was not really that happy - I don't think we defended our line that well and it was touch and go ten minutes into the second half. We gave too many penalties away and didn't respect the ball enough. But we still scored 42 points, which says something."

Rhodes will be without veteran Mike Embleton for the rest of the season after he dislocated a shoulder when landing awkwardly after a tackle in only his second appearance of term.

But Jordan Potter and Elliot Bulmer are expected to be available again for Saturday.

Added Rhodes: "Milford are a good team. For some reason they, like us, struggle on the road but they've picked up some good wins at home. They play on a 3G surface and play it well. It will be tough to go there and win."

Acorn 'A' host Beverley in their penultimate game in Yorkshire Men's League division one as they look to secure runners-up place.

Heworth, who have two games left in division two, will have to wait to play them as they have a blank weekend.

York Lokomotive have completed their division three campaign and will finish second unless Bradford Victoria Rangers win their last game.